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Winter Wedding Discount
You can save 25% on your site fee if you hold your wedding November 1-March 31 (100-guest maximum). Contact the park office for details, 831/454-7938, [email protected]

Why We Like This Place

In the early 1900s, Lord and Lady Anderson of England managed to make their way to this beautiful area just outside Felton, whereupon they bought the 43 acres which now make up Highlands Park. Naturally, they built themselves an English-style mansion on the property and named it "The Highlands" in honor of Lord Anderson’s Scottish heritage. In the ‘30s, the Nasser family bought the estate, tore down the aging mansion and built Highlands House, the home you see today. Santa Cruz County purchased the property and then opened it as a park in 1977, and the site has been a favorite of the public ever since.

The park’s grounds have been used for a wide variety of events, and the vast lawn next to the house is where many of them take place. Spread out under the sun and ringed by towering oaks, pines and redwoods, it’s custom-made for a summer wedding. There’s plenty of room for couples to get married in front of a white gazebo at one end of the lawn, and then walk over to tables set up on the other end for their reception. It’s also an ideal spot for a corporate picnic or family reunion, whether you plan to bring in picnic tables, spread blankets right on the grass for a genuine lawn party, or stage a formal affair with linens, silver and market umbrellas. The lawn is actually big enough to have several activities going at once!

The Highlands House is also available for group events. Surrounded by trees and flowers (the camellia bushes and the magnolia tree are gorgeous in bloom), it has several rooms on the first floor which can be used in a multitude of ways. For weddings, set up a buffet in the living room and have your reception in the much larger Lorenzo Room, a pleasant space with a hardwood floor (great for dancing) and multipaned windows overlooking the garden. Decorate the foyer with flowers and use it for a small ceremony or a gift room. The adjacent Garden Room is the coolest in the house, and is considered the best place for the cake and for overheated relatives. During the week, these same rooms work just as well for meetings or other business functions.

You’ll be pleased to note that if you’re a bride, there’s a sizable changing room upstairs and a second-floor balcony from which you can toss your bouquet. The park also has tennis courts, a kids’ play area and a nature trail just a short walk from the house. Highlands House & Park spent almost half a century as a family retreat and getaway, and it continues to provide a natural and relaxing environment for everyone who’s lucky enough to spend some time here.

Capacity

Ceremony

Max. Seated Indoors: 75

Max. Seated Outdoors: 200

Reception/Special Events

Max. Seated Indoors: 50

Max. Seated Outdoors: 200

Max. Standing/Cocktails Indoors: 90

Max. Standing/Cocktails Outdoors: 200

Meetings

Max. Seated: 75

CEREMONY & EVENT/RECEPTION CAPACITY: Indoors, the facility holds 50 seated or 90 for a standing reception; outdoors, the lawn area seats 200. The Highlands House can accommodate a maximum of 125 guests from April–mid-June. The capacity increases to 200 from mid-June&October.

Cost: Prices, Deposits, Etc.

The rental fee is required at the time of booking. The 10-hour minimum fee (which covers use of the house and lawn) is $1,400 for Santa Cruz County residents, $1,540 for non-residents, and $140/$154 for each additional set-up hour needed. The 10 hours includes 3 hours for setup, a 5-hour maximum event time, and 2 hours for cleanup. Some tables and chairs are included. The permit fee is $200 if alcohol is served, along with a $200 damage deposit. There is an additional $250 non-resident fee for events hosted by someone not residing in Santa Cruz County. There is a 25% discount from November 1 to March 31, however, maximum capacity is reduced to 100 guests.

Ball fields have limited availability. As of March 1, 2013 the Highlands Park picnic areas are available on a drop-in basis, first come, first served, for groups of 30 or less. This policy is subject to change.

Some Essential Info

Price $

Catering

BYO

Alcohol

BYO

Amplified Music

IndoorsOutdoorsw/ Restrictions

Wheelchair Access

Access Limited

Availability

Year-round, daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas Days. Hours are 10am–midnight on Fridays and Saturdays or 10am–10pm, Sunday–Thursday. There’s a 10-hour minimum on weekends and a 2-hour minimum on weekdays. A 6-hour minimum rental is available if you book within 3 months of your date.